Drogheda’s opera lovers, and there are many, will have no problems travelling the short distance to Navan this Saturday night for what promises to be a real treat at the Solstice Arts Centre where the Irish National Opera is presenting two extraordinary works Trade and Mary Motorhead, adapted by Irish composer Emma O’Halloran from her uncle Mark O’Halloran’s plays.

When this double bill of new Irish operas premiered in the US last year they met with instant acclaim from The New York Times and the Irish media have been equally ecstatic with The Irish Time, Irish Independent and The Arts Review all giving it four star ratings.

Both operas delve into the complexities of modern life, featuring characters in unexpected situations, reacting to the twists and turns that life has thrown at them. Mark O’Halloran’s (Adam & Paul, Garage) texts cut straight to the raw emotional core of each character. Emma O’Halloran’s score combines beauty and drama in the vocal lines with echoes of 80’s gritty electronic music layered over the orchestral accompaniment, creating a new and unique soundscape.

In the monodrama Mary Motorhead “the vivid, charismatic Naomi Louisa O’Connell” (New York Times) sings the title role. The Irish mezzo-soprano “is electrifying as Mary” (Seen and Heard International). In prison after stabbing her husband in the head, Mary Motorhead reflects on the events that brought their turbulent rural marriage to such a crisis, while he lies in intensive care. 

Set in a guesthouse in Dublin’s north inner city, Trade opens with a vulnerable young rent boy sung by tenor Oisín Ó Dálaigh sitting with a middle-aged client performed by bass John Molloy. The older man has blood on his shirt. A lot has happened since the two last met.     

The LA Times describes Trade and Mary Motorhead conductor Elaine Kelly as “a discovery, tracing the musical lines with exactitude”. Tom Creed directs, with electronic sound design by Alex Dowling, sound design by David Sheppard, set design by Jim Findlay, lighting design by Christopher Kuhl and costume design by Montana Levi Blanco.  

Trade / Mary Motorhead are sung in English with English surtitles.  

A co-production with Beth Morrison Projects   

Emma O'Halloran & Mark O’Halloran

Trade / Mary Motorhead

Co-production with Beth Morrison Projects (New York)

Sat 26 October @ 7:30 pm

Tickets €30/27

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan          

https://solsticeartscentre.ie

Irish National Opera is funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.